Mower structure



June-10,1941. H. w. slMPsoN MowER STRUCTURE Original Filed Jan. 22, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 Sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR. HOWARD w. SIMPSON Y, i4MTT0-RMJYS BYv A H. w. slMPsorSfV MowER sTRvcTURE original Filduan. 22.A 1940 Jurrie 10, 1941.

June 10, 1941. H w slMpsQN 2,245,451

MOWER STRUCTURE original Filed Jan. 22, 1940 4 sheets-sheets INVENTOR. HOWARD W. SIMPSON MJL f ATTORNEYS FIG. 3.

June 10, 1941- H. WQSIMPSON `2,245,451-

www STRUCTURE original Filed Jan. 22, 1940 4 sheets-sheet 4 l l 4 b l 4 b HWENTORT owARD w. SIMPSON ATTORNEYS Patented June 10, 1941 MOWER STRUCTURE Howard W. Simpson, Dearborn, Mich., assiznorto Detroit Harvester Company, Detroit, Mich., a

corporation of Michiganoriginal application January zz, 1940, semi No. 315,112. Divided and this application May 20, 1940, lserial No. 336,285

19 Claims. (Cl. 56-25) This invention relates generally to mower structures such as tractor operated mowers, and

lconstitutes a division of my application filed January 22, 1940, bearing Serial No; 315,112.

One of the essential objects of-the invention is toprovide a mower bar support that is adjustable about a transverse horizontal axis, lprefer-l ably about a connection between said support and the tractor, so that the sickle bar carried by said mower bar may be 'tilted relative to the ground to vary the height of cut.

Another object is to provide an efficient means for adjusting the mower bar support about the transverse axis mentioned.

Other objects, advantages and novel details of construction of this invention will be made` more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accom panying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my combined tractor-mower with par-ts broken away for clearv DESS;

Figure 2 is a. top plan view of my improved tractor-mower combination with parts broken away for clearness;` K

Figure 3 is a front elevation of my improved tractor-mower;

Figure 4 is a rear elevation of my improved tractor-mower;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of the .torque transmitting shaft and the housing therefor;

Figure 6 is a. section taken on the plane indicated by the line 6-6 of Figure 2;

Figure 'l is an enlarged fragmentary view of a. portion of Figure 1; l

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of Figure 2;

Figure 9 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a modification of my invention.

Referring now to the drawings, I6 is a tractor having a main frame I I provided with a front axle I2 and a rear axle I3. A suitable .motor (not shown) is provided within a hood I4 on the frame and is adapted to drive the tractor-forwardly and rearwardly through suitable transmission means including a conventional clutch. The motor is also adapted to drive a suitable power take-olf, including'a shaft I5 and sheave I6.

The mower mechanism comprises a support I1 to which is secured an inner shoe I8. 'I'he shoe I8 is pivoted to the support for vertical swinging movement about an axis defined by the pivot connection indicated at I9 in Figure 2 and the center of a universal joint 20 within a universally adjustable housing 2l.

Rigidly secured to the shoe I8 is a mower arm 22 on which is mounted for longitudinal reciprocation a sickle bar 23 carrying cutting sectors 24. The sickle bar 23 is connected by a pitman 25 with a crank pin 26 carried by a crank 21 of a crank shaft 21 driven from the power take-olf in a manner which will subsequently be describedl( 'I'he support Il is connected to the frame II of the tractor by a bar 28 which is secured to the frame of the tractor by a bracket l23 and a. universal connection 30. Accordingly, the bar 28 limits movement of the support II about the .center of the universal joint 30. The connection between the bar 28 and the support I1, as indicated at 3I in Figure 3, .permits adjustment of the support Il about a. transverse horizontal axis, as will subsequently be described.

The powery take-off shaft I5, previously referred to, is connected by a plurality of V-belts or other suitable drive means 32 to a plurality of sheaves 33 mounted on a transmission shaft 34. 'I'he shaft 34 is mounted in a housing 35 rigidly secured as by bolting or otherwise to the rear axle I3 of the tractor, all as best seenin Figure 1. Intermediate the transmission'shaft 34 and the crank shaft 2l and connected thereto by universal joints 31 and 20, respectively, is a telescoping propeller shaft P. As shown, the shaft 34 carries at one end thereof one element 36 of a torque transmitting universal oint 31, the other element 38 being connected to the torque transmitting shaft which transmits the power to the crank 2l. As best seen in Figure 5, the element 38 of the universal joint has a stub section 40 which'is received within a torque transmitting tubular member 4I rigidly secured thereto as by welding or the like, as indicated at 42. The tubular member 4I, at its opposite end, carries a shaft 43 rigidly secured thereto as indicated by the welded connection 44. Shaft 43 is splined as indicated at 45, and is received within a. second tubular shaft 48 correspondingly splined, as indicated at 41, which is permanently secured` to one element 4 8 of the universal joint 28 previously referred to. The connection between the tubular shaft 46 and the element 48 of the universal joint is indicated as comprising a short section 5,0 received within tubular shaft 46 and as including a welded connection 5I. It will be evident that a torque will be transmitted from the single element 38 to the universal joint element 48 through the medium of the tubular member 4I, shaft 43, and tubular shaft 46. At the same time the parts are telescopically arranged, the tubular shaft 46 being adapted to slidelongitudinally over the splined shaft I5. In order to protect the torque transmitting telescopic shafts just described, the tubular housing indicated generally at 52 is provided. This comprises a spherically formed cap 53 cooperating in universally adjusted relation with a spherically formed inner shell 54 and a spherically formed outer shell 55. Shells 54 and 55, as indicated in Figure 1, are secured to the shaft housing 35, and cooperate therewith to form a. complete housing for the universal joint 31. At the opposite end of the torque transmitting assembly is a spherically formed shell 68 cooperating in universally adjusted relation with a spherically formedinner shell 6I and an outer shell 52. Shells 6I and 62, as best indicated in Figure 1, are rigidly secured to a crank shaft housing 63 with which they form the housing 2| for the universal joint 20. Housing 83 is in turn rigid with the support I1.

Intermediate the spherically formed shells 53 and 60, I provide a tubular member 54 welded or otherwise secured to a flange 55 on shell 53, and a cooperating tubular member 56 welded or` otherwise secured within a flange 61 formed on the shell 80.

88 is a bell crank pivoted to a bracket 8| carried by the frame of the tractor. Preferably the bell crank 80 is connected to the support I1 by means of a chain 82, and is urged in a counterclockwise direction by a spring 83 connected to a bracket 84 secured to the frame II of the tractor adjacent the rear axle I3. Suitable means indicated at 85 are provided for adjusting the tension of the spring 83.

'Ihe bell crank 80 is adapated to apply continuously a lifting force to the support I1, but the force exerted by the spring 83 is less than sulcient to completely counterbalance the weight of the support I1 and its associated structure. Manual means is provided for further actuating the bell crank 80, and vthis takes the form of a lever 86 havingV locking means actuated by the release 81 associated with a toothed sector 88. The bell crank 80, as best seen in Figure 4, has an offset portion 88 extending into the path of movement of the lever 86. As a result, movement of kthe lever 86 rearwardly, as seen in Figure 1, results in positive rotation of the bell crank 88 and positive lifting ofthe support I1. By this means it is possible to limit the downward position of the support I1. Since the offset portion 88 engages lever 86 at one side only, upward movement of the support I1, due to external causes such as riding over a high point on the ground, is permitted. This upward movement of the support I1 permits bell crank 8U to rotate under the influence of spring 83, thus causing offset portions 88 to move away from lever 85. As soon as the support I1 passes over the high point on the ground', it drops down to its initial position, determined by the setting of lever 86, where offset portion 88 against abuts lever 86.

Referring now particularly to Figure 3, the shoe 8 is provided with a vertically upstanding arm 90. by means of which the shoe and the associated mower arm are adapted to be swung upwardly. Secured to the upper end of the arm 9U is a tension spring 8|, the opposite end of which is secured as indicated at 92 to a bracket 83 secured to the frame of the tractor and to which in turn is secured the bracket 8| previously referred to. As best seen in Figure 1, the tension spring 9| exerts a clockwise moment on the shoe I8, and counterbalances a portion of the weight thereof. The spring 9| is selected so that it is insufficient to actually raise the mower arm, but it counterbalances a major portion of the weight thereof and permits the mowing arm to rest lightly on the ground. As a result, springs 9| and 83 together insure that the mowing arm as a whole-will rest lightly on the ground, with the spring 83 counterbalancing a large portion of the weight of the assembly at the inner end and exerting a direct lift thereon, and the spring 9| exerts a lifting moment which tends to swing the mowing arm vertically. y

As previously stated, the support I1 is adjustable about a transverse horizontal axis and specifically about the connection 3| between said support and the supporting bar 28. In order to provide this adjustment, an arm IIII is provided on the flange 61 of the shell 80, and the cooperating arm III is provided on the outer shell 62 of the housing for the universal joint 20, all as best illustrated inFigure 1.

An adjustable link ||2 interconnects the arms ||I| and III, having for this purpose a universal connection indicated at I|3. As shown in Figure 7, this universal connection I I3 comprises a spherical element IIB sleeved on a cylindrical shank III* of the arm III and slidably engaged by the spherical walls of a socket H2 in the link |I2. I have illustrated the adjustment as being provided by a pair of lock nuts I Il which threadedly engage the link ||2 upon opposite sides of the arm IIII. As will be evident from this ligure, adjustment of the nuts IIII provides an angular adjustment between housing .52'and the support I1. This has the effect of swinging the support I1 about the connection 3| so that the mower arm 22 will be tilted relative to the ground to vary the height of cut made by the sickle bar 23 of the mower assembly. For example, when nuts ||4 are adjusted in a manner to swing the free ends of arms III) and III toward each other, the angle between housing 52 and shell 62 is changed correspondingly. Such angular action between the parts mentioned causes support I1 to rock about the connection 3 I, while housing 52 swings about the center of universal joint 31. The consequent elongation of the torque transmitting assembly 52 between universal joints 28 and 31 is permitted by reason of the splined connection between the shafts 43 and 4B. Therefore, when arms III) and I II are adjusted toward each other as aforesaid, the support I1 is adjusted about the connection 3|.

In Figure 9 I have illustrated a slight modification wherein arms ||8b and IIIb are located on the undersides of the housings 52 and 2|. As shown, the arm I 0b is a depending integral part of a collar |50 that is sleeved upon and rigid with the housing 52 and an annular portion |5| of the shell 50, while the arm IIIb is secured Yby a pin |52 in the `housing 83 which forms la part of the universal joint housing 2|. An adjustable link II2b interconnects the arms IIIb and IIIb and has a universal connection |l3b. Lock nuts II4b are provided on the link I I2b at opposite sides of the arm IIIIb, and the operation of the parts is the same as that mentioned in connectionwlth the adjustment illustrated in Figures 6 and 7.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a mowing machine, a tractor having a power take-on.' shaft, a sickle bar at one side of the tractor, a driving connection between the power take-olf shaft and sickle bar including a propeller shaft, a crank shaft, and a universal joint between said propeller shaft .and crank shaft, relatively movable housings for said propeller shaft and universal joint, a housing for the crank shaft, a support for the sickle bar rigid with the crank shaft lhousing and mounted to turn about af transverse horizontal axis relative to the tractor, and means for adjusting the support about such transverse horizontal axis to tilt the sickle bar relative to the ground, including an.

adjustable connection betweenthe relatively movable housings aforesaid.

2. In aA mowing machine, a tractor having a power take-olf shaft, a sickle bar at one side of the tractor, a drivingy connection between the power take-oli shaft andsickle bar including a propeller shaft, a crank shaft, and a universal joint between said propeller shaft and crank shaft, relatively movable housings for said propeller shaft and universal joint, a housing for the crank shaft, a support for the'sickle bar rigid with the crank shaft housing and mounted to turn about a transverse horizontal axis relative to the tractor, and means for adjusting the support about such transverse horizontal axis to tilt the sickle bar relativefto the ground, including arms rigid with said relatively movable housings, and an adjustable connection between said arms.

3. In a mowing machine, a tractor having a power take-off shaft, a sickle bar at one side of the tractor, a driving connection between the power take-oifshaft and sickle bar including a propeller shaft, a crank shaft, and a universal joint between said propeller shaft and crank shaft, relatively movable housings for said propeller shaft and universal joint, a housing for the crank shaft, a support for the sickle bar rigid with the crank shaft housing and mounted to turn about a transverse horizontal axis relative to the tractor, and means for adjusting the support about such transverse horizontal axis to tilt the sickle bar relative to the ground, including arms carried by said relatively movable housings, and an' adjustable link interconnecting said arms.

4. In a mowing machine, a tractor having a power take-olf shaft, a sickle bar at one side of the tractor, a driving connection between the power take-off shaft and sickle bar including a propeller shaft, a crank shaft, and a universal joint between said propeller shaft and crank shaft, relatively movable housings for said propeller shaft and universal joint, a housing for the crank shaft, a support for the sickle bar)l rigid with the crank shaft housing and mounted to turn about a transverse horizontal axis relative to the tractor, and means for adjusting the support about such transverse horizontal axis to tilt the sickle bar relative to the ground, including an arm fixed to the propeller housing, and anadjustable connection between said arm and the universal joint housing including an element mounted for universal movement relative to said universal joint housing.

5. In a tractor-mower, a mower arm support mounted for adjustment about a transverse axis, a crank on said support for driving a sickle bar, a drive shaft, a universal joint connecting said crank and drive shaft, an enclosure for said shaft, an enclosure for said universal joint rigid with said mower arm support, and means mounted in part on said shaft enclosure and in part on said universal joint enclosure for adjusting the angularity of said support.

6. In a tractor-mower, a mower arm support mounted for adjustment about a transverse axis,

a crank .on said support for driving a sickle bar,

a drive shaft anda universaljoint connecting said crank and drive shaft, an enclosure for said joint rigid 'with said support, an enclosure for said shaft, an 'arm on said universal joint enclosure, an arm on said shaft enclosure, and adjustable means connecting said arms for varying the angularity of said universal joint enclosure and the associated support relative to the said shaft enclosure.

7. In a mowing machine, a mower shoe, a support for raid shoe, a pivotal mounting for saidY support, ka cutter bar carried rby said shoe, drive means for the cutter bar including a pair of universally connected shafts, universally connected housings for said shafts, one being rigid with the support, and means carried by said universally connected housings for tilting the support, mower shoe and cutter bar as a unit about said pivotal mounting.

8. In a. mowing machine, a mower shoe, a support for said shoe, a pivotal mounting for said support, a cutter bar carried by said shoe, drive means for the cutter bar including a' pair of universally connected shafts, universally connected housings for said-shafts, one being rigid with the support, and means for tilting the mower shoe, support and cutter -bar as a unit about said pivotal mounting, includingn arms rigid with said housings forrsaid shafts, one being rigid with the support, and means for tilting the mower shoe, support and cutter bar as a-unit about said pivotal mounting, including arms rigid with said housings, and a link universally connected to one of said arms and adjustably connected to the other of said arms.

10. In a mowing machine, a ground-engaging mower shoe, a cutter bar carried Vby said shoe, drive means for the cutter bar including a pair of universally connected shafts, supporting means for the shoe including universally connected housings for said shafts, and means carried by said universally connected housings for tilting the shoe and cutter bar as a unit relative to the ground.

v11. In a mowing machine, a ground-engagingmower shoe, a` cutter bar carried by said shoe, drive means for the cutter bar includingv a pair of universally connected shafts, supporting means for the shoe including universally connected housings for said shafts, and means for tilting the shoe and cutter bar as a unit relative to the ground including arms rigid with said housings, one to each housing, and an adjustable- -drive means for the cutter bar including a pair of universally connected shafts, supporting means for the shoe including universally connected housings for said shafts, and means for tilting the shoe and cutter bar as a unit relative to the ground including arms rigid with said housings, one to each housing, and a link universally connected to one of said arms and adjustably connected to the other of said arms.

13. In a mowing machine, a. tractor, a mmm' .assembly adjacent the tractor and inclmng n cutter bar, means for driving the cutter bar from the tractor including a pair of universally conassembly adjacent the tractor'and including a cutter bar, means for driving the cutter bar from the tractor including a pair of universally connected shafts, and a mounting for the mower assembly including a supporting rod 'extending laterally from the tractor, a pair of universally connected housings for the shafts afore-v said, one of said housings being connected to said mower assembly and tiltable on said rod, and means for/tilting the tiltable housing on said rod including substantially parallel arms projecting from said universally connected hou's.A

ing from the tractor, a pair of universally connected housings for said shafts, one of said housings being connected to said mower assembly and tiltable on said rod, arms projecting laterally from said housings, one from each housing,

and an adjustable connection between said arms operable to cause the tiltable housing and mower assembly connectedthereto to tilt about saidy 17. In a mowing machine, a tractor, a mower assembly adjacent the tractor and including a cutter bar, a supporting rod extending laterally from the tractor, a support for the mower assembly mounted to tilt on said rod, means for driving the cutter bar from the tractor including a pair of shafts having a universal joint therebetween, a housing for said universal joint rigid with said support and including cooperating spherical shells, and an adjustable connection between said shells operable to tilt the support on said rod.

18. In a mowing machine, a tractor, a mower l assembly adjacent the tractor and including a ings, one from each of said housings, and an ad- Ajustable link interconnecting said arms.1

15.v In a mowing machinea tractor, a mower assembly adjacent the tractor and including a cutter bar, means for driving thecutter bar from the tractor including a pair of universally connected shafts, and a mounting for the mower assembly including a supporting rod extending laterally from the tractor, a pair of universally connected housings for the shafts aforesaid, one of said housings being connected to said mower assembly and tiltable on said'od, and means for tilting the tiltable housing on said rod including substantially parallel arms lprojecting from said universally connected housings, one from each of said housings, a sphericalvmember on one of said arms, and a link universally mounted on said spherical member and adjustably connected to the other of said arms.

16. In a mowing machine, a tractor, a mower cutter bar, a supporting rod extending laterally from the tractor, 4a support for the mower assembly mounted to tilt on said rod, means for driving the cutter bar from the tralctor including a'pair--of shafts havingla universal joint therebetween, a housing for said universal joint rigid withsaid support and including cooperating. spherical shells, andmeans for tilting the support on said rod, including arms rigid with said shells, one with each shell, and an adjustable linkv extending between and connected. to said arms.

19. In a mowing machine, a tractor, a mower assembly adjacentv the tractor and including a assembly adjacent the tractor and including a" cutter bar, means for driving the cutter bar from the tractor including a pair of universally j connected shafts, and a mounting for the mower assembly including a supporting rod projectcutter bar, a supporting rod extending laterally from thetractor, a support for the mower assembly mounted to tilt on said rod, means for driving the` cutter bar from the tractor including a pair of shafts having a universal joint therebetween, a housing for said universal joint rigid with said support and including cooperating spherical shells, and means for tilting the support on'said rod including arms rigid with said shells, one with each shell, and a link universally connected to one of said arms and adjustably connected to the'other of said arms.

. HOWARD W. SIMPSON. 

